Panzeri wins ATB Financial Classic by 2
Alberta, Canada (Sports Network) – Joe Panzeri carded a 2-under-par 70 on Friday to win the ATB Financial Classic by a pair of strokes.
Panzeri was ahead by three entering the final round, marking the second straight year he held the 54-hole lead at this event. A season ago, he squandered that lead and ended in third, but he delivered Friday, finishing 72 holes at 17-under-par 271 for his second PGA Tour Canada win.
“This year, I was trying to soak it in a little bit more and enjoy it,” said Panzeri, who moved into third place on the tour’s Order of Merit with the victory. “I enjoyed it a lot more coming down the stretch. I feel like I handled the pressure at the end pretty well.”
Kevin Tucker and Kyle Stough carded matching 68s to end in a tie for second place at 15-under 273, alongside Chris Epperson, who shot 69 at Country Hills Golf Club’s Talons Course.
Tony Finau (71) fired a 64 and jumped into a share of fifth with Canadian Beon Yeong Lee (66) at 14-under 274. Matt Marshall (67), Jon McLean (69), Nick Taylor (70), Lucas Lee (70) and Maxwell Scodro (70) tied for seventh at minus-13.
Panzeri opened with a bogey at No. 1, but rebounded with birdies at Nos. 2 and 7 to make the turn with the lead. He parred the 10th, but stumbled to consecutive bogeys from the 11th and fell into a five-way tie for the top spot.
Undaunted, the 27-year-old eagled the par-5 13th to regain a two-stroke advantage. He parred his next four holes, and was ahead by a shot over clubhouse leaders Tucker and Stough entering the par-4 18th.
There, Panzeri split the fairway, stuffed his approach within six feet and drained the birdie putt for a 2-stroke win.
NOTES: Panzeri’s other PGA Tour Canada win on came at the 2011 Dakota Dunes Casino Open … 2012 champion Michael Gligic played in the final group, but he shot 75 on Sunday and tied for 21st at 9-under … This event was initially scheduled for June 20-23, but was postponed due to torrential rains and flooding in the Calgary area.
Categorized in: PGA